Professor Sheldon Evans - Why Do We Punish?

What is the true purpose of prison? Sentencing sits at the absolute center of criminal justice, sparking fierce debate from every angle—whether it’s public outrage over lenient terms or the devastating, unintended consequences of mandatory minimums. This week, David sits down with Professor Sheldon Evans of Washington University in St. Louis, a leading expert on punishment theory, to break down the historical, social, and philosophical forces that dictate how we punish crime.